AP U.S. Government: Voting Rights, Campaigns, Media & Interest Groups

Electorate

All eligible voters in a country.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

15th Amendment (1870)

Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.

17th Amendment (1913)

Direct election of Senators → increased voter influence.

19th Amendment (1920)

Women's suffrage.

23rd Amendment (1961)

Gives DC residents electoral votes.

24th Amendment (1964)

Bans poll taxes in federal elections.

26th Amendment (1971)

Lowers voting age to 18.

Poll Taxes

Fee to vote; used to disenfranchise the poor & Black voters.

Poll Tests/Literacy Tests

Used to suppress minorities.

Civil Rights Acts (1957, 1964)

Federal enforcement of voting rights.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Bans literacy tests; federal oversight of states with discrimination history.

Rational Choice Voting

Based on what benefits the voter most.

Retrospective Voting

Judging a candidate/party based on past performance.

Prospective Voting

Based on predictions of future policy.

Party-line Voting

Voting for one party's candidates across the ballot.

Party Loyalists

Stick with their party no matter what.

Candidate Character

Trustworthiness, personality, experience.

Political Issues

Stances on policies like immigration, economy, etc.

Voter Turnout

Who actually votes; affected by registration laws, age, education, etc.

Iron Triangle

Relationship between: Interest groups → Congress committees → Bureaucracy.

Pluralism

Idea that many groups compete → no single group dominates.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

"Friend of the court" briefs to influence Supreme Court decisions.

Incumbent

Current officeholder running again.

Primary Elections

Voters choose party nominee (private ballots).

Caucus

Party meetings; more public, less turnout.

Delegate

Represents voters at national convention.

General Election

Election Day - Tuesday after first Monday in November.

Electoral College

Winner-take-all system in most states.

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

States agree to award electors to national popular vote winner once enough states join.

Hard Money

Direct donations to a candidate; regulated.

Soft Money

Party-building money, now mostly limited.

PAC

Gives money directly to candidates; contribution limits.

Super PAC

Can spend unlimited money independently; no direct donations to candidates.

Independent Expenditures

Spending not coordinated with a campaign.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)

Limited soft money; increased disclosure.

Mass Media

TV, internet, newspapers, radio.

Narrowcasting

Media targeting specific groups (FOX, MSNBC).

Infotainment

Entertainment + news (Daily Show).

Media Bias

Real or perceived slant.

Fake News

Misleading/false information.

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Limits on individual spending = unconstitutional (free speech).

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Corporations/unions can spend unlimited independent money.